America The Broken

New York Times’ opinion columnist Paul Krugman takes a look at the state of his nation, and what he sees isn’t good. His column “There Will Be Blood” in today’s NY Times takes a look at the state of federal politics and how the Republican Party is willing to sabotage the country to get what it wants. From his must-read article:

These days, national security experts are tearing their hair out over the decision of Senate Republicans to block a desperately needed new strategic arms treaty. And everyone knows that these Republicans oppose the treaty, not because of legitimate objections, but simply because it’s an Obama administration initiative; if sabotaging the president endangers the nation, so be it.

How does this end? Mr. Obama is still talking about bipartisan outreach, and maybe if he caves in sufficiently he can avoid a federal shutdown this spring. But any respite would be only temporary; again, the G.O.P. is just not interested in helping a Democrat govern.

My sense is that most Americans still don’t understand this reality. They still imagine that when push comes to shove, our politicians will come together to do what’s necessary. But that was another country.

Republican politicians and operatives insinuate that Barack Obama is a threat to the country, if not an outright traitor. That’s what the baseless accusations of socialism are about. But it’s crystal clear to anyone who is honest, informed and not intellectually defective that the real threat, if not the real traitors, are the Republican politicians who now control Congress and who will use every weapon in their arsenal to discredit their enemies and get their own way.

Democrats are handling this wrong. You can’t negotiate with thugs and you can’t reason with vandals. They need to ramp up their marketing–bomb the networks, radio stations and newspapers with snappy, smart and stylish advertising that shows the Republicans for what they are: a gang of ruthless and amoral Plutocrats who don’t give a shit about America and who will say anything and use anyone to get their way.

Take back your goddamn country, Democrats. Your country needs you. We all need you: a disintegrating America is bad for the planet.

Most people from the middle of the road who actually still for some reason believe they are certainly two separate entities, but jovial and ultimately cooperative in their legislative approach, are FINALLY pulling their well-meaning heads out of their asses and recognizing exactly what Krugman declares in his piece: that the G.O.P. is just not interested in helping a Democrat govern.

Americans, and to a lesser extent the rest of the world, is just totally addicted to sensationalism and instant gratification. There is one way to save America: through restraint and cooperation, learning to live with less and returning to prosperity by plodding slowly. This is not going to happen. Americans, their media, their politicians, want it all, they want it now; when they don’t get it, they panic and turn up the volume even higher. It’s fucked. They’re like sugar fiends and hype is their palm oil-based sucrose-packed treats, or like smoking mice.